2024-25 Trip to the Southeast, Day 33

Day 33, Thursday, November 21, 2024, Frank Jackson State Park, Opp, AL, Day 4 - 0 Miles, 1,589.2 Miles for the Trip

A little early evening excitement last night - I was sitting inside reading when I heard a loud explosion. Didn't quite shake the trailer, but it was loud enough that I checked everything I thought "might" have caused it in/on my trailer. I discovered that it was the spare tire blowing up on the trailer next to me (he said it sure shook his trailer). I've read on a couple of forums of tires sitting still and blowing up, but last night was my first "first hand" experience.

The predicted low temperatures were a day off. 41°F last night, 47°F for my morning walk. Still too windy to sit outside (25MPH gusts) even though there is plenty of sun. Only 56°F at 12:00. More reading inside. The current book is Dead Man's Hand, a collection of short stories by well known authors built around poker, and put together by Otto Penzler.

Around 3:00 I decided it wasn't going to get any warmer at 61°F, so I headed out to do a final drain of the gray & black tanks, disconnect, rinse & store the sewer hose. Since the morning temperature is predicted to be 39°F, I disconnected the water as well. I'd rather run the pump & fresh water tank for the rest of the day & night rather than fight rolling up a stiff water hose in the morning. All I'll need to do is hook up the truck, pull the chocks & disconnect the power cord. Unlike the last move, I want to get an early (for me) start since my Garmin tells me it is a 222 mile trip.

By the way, you won't hear from me for the next three days. I'm heading to Burchfield Branch Park near Brookwood, AL, and according to all the reviews I've read, there is no cell coverage or WiFi in the campground or nearby area. So, it will be one of the times I wish I had Starlink. I keep thinking about getting a Mini, but have rarely needed it, and while I could give up some parts of my cell phone plans and use WiFi Calling on the phones, it would not save me much on the cell plans if I want to keep some data service on cell modems. Anyway, I'll be back to listening to XM Radio, and out of touch over the weekend. 

Dinner was an Amy's Enchilada meal.

Until Monday - 

2024-25 Trip to the Southeast, Day 32

Day 32, Wednesday, November 20, 2024, Frank Jackson State Park, Opp, AL, Day 3 - 0 Miles, 1,589.2 Miles for the Trip

The rain never started up again, and it didn't cool off. My weather app predicted 47°F overnight; it never went below 68°F and with the Maxx fan running on automatic, the inside of the trailer never got below 70F. While there are a couple of choices for 12V roof mounted fans for trailers, I prefer the Maxx fan. It can be ordered with a cover that allows it to be open & run while it is raining, provides 10 speeds, and for me, the most useful feature, a thermostat that can be used to vary the speed of the fan. As the trailer heats up, it runs faster, and as it cools, it slows down or shuts off. Handy when away from the trailer and dry camping since uses less power as it slows down.

In any case, clear skies this morning with a bit of wind. I walked the campground loop - .78 of a mile, and after breakfast decided to do laundry. 2 washers & 2 dryers, all working for a change. $1.50 to wash & $1.00 to dry. One run on high got everything dry.

After making the bed & putting the wash away, I headed for the showers. In the men's room three showers, one of which is handicapped. I used a standard shower. 1 small double hook in the drying area plus a bench. A 4" lip between the drying area & the shower, but because the shower curtain was 6" above the lip, the entire drying area floor got wet. No soap dish or shelf in the shower. A fine spray low volume showerhead and temperature control all in one. I took 4 minutes for the water to get warm (never hot enough to turn it down). It was clean. Overall, a C-.

After my shower I tried sitting outside, managed for a half hour, but even setting up my chair beside the truck, the wind was too much. I gave up & headed inside.

I decided on an late lunch / early dinner - a cheese brat & chips. 

Until Tomorrow - 

2024-25 Trip to the Southeast, Day 31

Day 31, Tuesday, November 19, 2024, Frank Jackson State Park, Opp, AL, Day 2 - 0 Miles, 1,589.2 Miles for the Trip

The morning started as predicted - light rain around 5:00AM that never stopped all day. Heavier at times. I sent the morning inside the trailer - didn't get my walk since I don't do one when it is raining. I did some reading, and spent some time on the internet reading journals & forums. I did an update to the 2025 Rally Map, a Google map that shows the locations & dates for fiberglass trailer rallies. I took over the map from a woman who got tired of dealing with the hassles. It is a handy way to see if a rally is happening along your travel path.

The rain is keeping it cooler than yesterday; 67°F at noon. Still raining. The predictions are for it to go on all day and part of the night, but clearing tomorrow. I'm still sitting inside the trailer reading. The storm shown on the radar map is moving northeast, ie the path puts in line with my location.

The Radar Map

The View From My Back Window

The rain stopped for a bit between 4:00 and 5:00, although it is predicted to start again around 6:00. In any case, it is too dark to sit outside, so this has been one of the first days I spent in its entirety inside.

Dinner was a Lean Cuisine Chicken Enchilada Suiza.

More Tomorrow - 

2024-25 Trip to the Southeast, Day 30

Day 30, Monday, November 18, 2024, Frank Jackson State Park, Opp, AL - 78.7 Miles, 1,589.2 Miles for the Trip

I took my time packing up & getting out of the park since the drive to Frank Jackson State Park was the shortest of the trip so far. A short section of I 10, then secondary 2 lane roads for most of the rest of the trip. A few towns along the way. I waited until I hit Alabama to get gas since it was cheaper than Florida prices. I should have waited until I hit Opp and saved another $.15 per gallon, but I filled up in Samson at $2.89 a gallon.

I'm in site 10 which is on the lake on a raised platform. Fine gravel, fairly level (1" left to right & level front to back) with a picnic table & fire pit. Some sites have steps down to the lake; mine just has a steep bank. Full hookups for $43.80 per night including a 15% senior discount & $5.25 reservation fee. The various lodging taxes pretty much counter the senior discount - City Lodging Tax 1.00% $1.48, County Lodging Tax 7% $10.24, Resort Fee 4.25% $6.20, State Lodging Tax 4% $5.84. 

Site 10

After setting up I sat outside and read. 75°F outside and cloudy; it was 78°F in the trailer so I fired up the AC. 

Around 3:00 I decided I wanted asparagus for dinner so I headed to the local IGA about 4 miles away. It was larger than most of the ones I've shopped at, so I picked up a couple of other things. Back at the trailer I finished reading Alan Dean Foster's Jed the Dead, and downloaded another of his books - Slipt. On the drive to the park I finished Edna Buchanan's Love Kills, and am attempting to download another audio book - Harlan Coben's Tell No One. I don't know why, but when I'm using AT&T, no matter how fast it is audio books take forever to download. I can switch to a slower Verizon connection & the books download much faster. In any case, after an hour Tell No One is half here.

For those interested, AT&T shows 24.8Mbps down & 11Mbps up, while Verizon is 8.8Mbps down & 4.9Mbps up.

Dinner was a Bubbaburger and asparagus.

More Tomorrow - 

2024-25 Trip to the Southeast, Day 29

Day 29, Sunday, November 17, 2024, Falling Waters State Park, Chipley, FL, Day 4 - 0 Miles, 1,519.5 Miles for the Trip

Another quiet night, at least once the kids in the tent next door settled in. A little warmer at 53°F overnight & 58°F for my morning walk. I listened to the Sunday puzzle on Weekend Edition as usual, only an hour earlier since the local NPR station starts Morning Edition at 7:00AM rather than 8:00AM for my home town NPR station. Of course, with the time zone change, if I listened to WRVO on the internet it would also be an hour earlier...

Lots of folks left during the day, and a few arrived; the campground is about 1/2 full. The tent campers next door left and 10 minutes later another one arrived. The older of the kids who left locked one of the men's toilet doors, then crawled out. In older times, I'd crawl under & unlock it, but I don't bend as well as I used to so I'll leave that for others.

Another day spent sitting outside reading. It got up to 78°F during the day. I made my usual Sunday phone calls - my brother is doing well & is settling into his new house in the Catskills. Everything at home is going well according to son Kyle, and the Guidos are trying to get the Scamp fiberglass damage caused by the AAA repaired before they put the trailer to bed for the winter. 

I finished Louise Penny's A World of Curiosities, and started Alan Dean Foster's Jed the Dead. I haven't read all that many of his books, but have enjoyed the last two.

I folded up & put away my large outdoor mat & replaced it with my 2' square one in preparation to leaving tomorrow.  I don't need to hurry in the morning since I'm only going 75 miles to the next stop.

That is about it for the day.

Dinner was a salad.

More Tomorrow -